From Proverbs 4-6
How do you seek wisdom? Wisdom has many benefits for those who seek and know her. Those who do not turn away from her. She ‘keeps’ them safe and well. She ‘guards’ and protects. She exalts and honours. Those who seek and acquire wisdom will be rewarded.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Today’s set of proverbs are meant to be the wisdom fathers pass on to their sons. From generation to generation.
4 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. (Pr 4:1–4)
The author calls out to all the sons and instructs them to hear their fathers instruction. Perhaps the passage was intended to encourage fathers to do the same in their family setting. In this way the instruction is for both fathers and their sons.
The author says he passes on ‘good precepts’. He later calls them ‘commandments’. Commands to live by. Commands that promote life.
He remembers the time when his father passed on the same instructions to him. Now he does it for his own son. Thus the instructions get passed on from generation to generation.
What kinds of ‘good precepts’ would you want to pass down through the generations of your family?
5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” (Pr 4:5–9)
The first instruction is I assume the most important. ‘Get wisdom, get insight’. Rule number one. The second is not to turn away from the fathers instruction. Through the time of the kings in Israel’s history, when sons turned away from their good fathers instruction and way of life. It did not end well.
He refers to wisdom as a ‘she’. Wisdom is personified throughout Proverbs. Wisdom is a woman. So is folly. If the sons do not turn away from wisdom (and insight) she will look after them.
He repeats the first instruction again. The beginning of wisdom is – get wisdom.
How do you seek wisdom?
Wisdom has many benefits for those who seek and know her. Those who do not turn away from her. She ‘keeps’ them safe and well. She ‘guards’ and protects. She exalts and honours. Those who seek and acquire wisdom will be rewarded.
Story of Jesus
The father describes Wisdom as the perfect wife. She will keep you free from sin. Wisdom protects every man who seeks her. The love of Wisdom is the love of God.
When Jesus was asked about the most important commandment the gospel records;
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mk 12:28–30)
When we seek to love the LORD, we seek wisdom.
Wisdom teaches people not to live for the world but rather to find satisfaction in God (Prov 9:1–5; Isa. 55:1–2; 12:2; 44:3). Wisdom will exalt you (Prov 4:8). She will give you a crown.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2015. All Rights Reserved.
